1878 Indian Head Cent - help about grade & value needed
Göttinger
Posts: 200 ✭✭✭
Dear US coin collectors and enthusiasts,
I recently got this 1878 Indian Head Cent / Penny at a yard sale. Could you please help me to put a grade and a potential market value on this coin?
Best regards from Germany
Göttinger
2
Comments
is that some green corrosion i see?
Grade is EF-40. This is based on the separation of the ribbon from the hair curl.
Should sell for around $200-220 on ebay.
There were 2 recent VF-20s which sold for $145 and $175 on ebay.
That is a nice find in a yard sale.
Nice find. Best wishes to Germany 🇩🇪 as well, 👍
A scarcer date, with XF 45 details, but dark and possibly environmental damaged surfaces.
You don’t want to clean it, per se, but you might want to try soaking it in acetone or olive oil.
In that condition, it would be considerably discounted below average retail values, but still bring ~$100+ US.
acetone won't touch corrosion
I've never used olive oil but others here have. bit surprised you only have a few replies so far. perhaps it's the weather here
Thanks for all your helpful replies.
Right now I have the coin soaking in soapy water to get the old plastic coin holder residue removed.
I have to admit that this coin was a little more expensive than my usual fleamarket pickups, I payed the equivalent of 18 Dollars for this coin and a 1867 Indian Head Cent in worse (more circulated) condition.
When the coin a little bit cleaner, I'll post some new pictures. I hope that the possible corrosion spots are just dirt / debris, otherwise I'll have to soak the coin in olive oil aswell.
soft plastic reacts with metal to form a film at first then up to a "goo" in advanced cases.
this needs to be removed with 100% pure acetone. let it soak with frequent changes to fresh acetone. rinse with as pure of alcohol as you can find. air dry.